Rim for tissue dispenser openings



y 1, 1950 K. T. SNOW 2,514,612

RIM FOR TISSUE DISPENSER OPENINGS Filed June 19, 1946 2 Sheefs-Sheet 1 K. T. SNOW RIM FOR TISSUE DISPENSER OPENINGS July 11, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19, 1946 Patented July 11, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved rim" for tissue dispenser openings and has for one of its principal objects the provision'of means for outlining'the opening with'a rim.

An important obj'ectof this invention is topro vid a rim member of plastics material adapted to outline the dispenser opening of a cleansing tissue box.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a detachable rim member for tissue container dispensers which provides strength and rigidity'to the flexible cardboard opening of tissue boxes now on the market.

A further'object of the invention is to provide an illuminated opening for cleansing tissue disp'ense'rs'.

'A still further object of this invention is the provision of a rim member of luminous material outlinin'gtheopening in a tissue dispenser.

Still another'object of the invention is to provide a plastics rim member for quick attachment and detachment to and from tissue container dispensers, whereby the rim may be readily locked in position on cleansing tissue boxes in which the tissues-are purchased or may be attached to a special container from which the tissues are dispensed;

Another important object of this invention is to provide a cleansing tissue container dispenser with-a luminous plastics material bordering the dispenser opening.

Jl'eansin'g tissue container dispensers customarilyinclude a-box-like portion into which folded tissues-are placed. The top of the container dispen'ser-is provided with an opening through which individual tissues may be withdrawn. In certain types of tissue boxes the opening in the top is an elongated slit. Usually the tissues in this type of Iboxare folded in such a manner that upon withdrawing the tissue projecting from the slit, a succeeding tissue is drawn up into position for subsequent withdrawal. Still other types of boxes have larger openings in the tops thereof for the removal of tissues not interfolded. However, in both instances it is essential to the removal of tissues to be able to locate the opening in the top of the box. Of course in the daytime or in a lighted room, finding the opening is no problem at all. Ina darkened room, however, it is often necessary to use tissues and in order to eliminate the groping in the dark, it is the object of this invention to outline the opening regardless of its size with a luminous plastics material in which event the opening is readily visible in the dark.

Other and further important objects of this invention will become apparent from the disclosures in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cleansing tissue container dispenser incorporating the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a modified form of tissue container dispenser.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a regular cardboard cleansing tissue container dispenser showing the rim member of this invention applied thereto.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the tissue container dispenser as shown in Figure 4 and showing the rim of this invention being applied thereto.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-! of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 6.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral It! indicates generally a cleansing tissue container dispenser having a box portion H including front and rear sides, ends, a top, and a bottom. The top or cover 12 of the dispenser is attached by means of hinges it to the rear side of the dispenser. A handle it is fixed to the front and center. The cover 52 may be raised about its hinges l3 and a plurality of folded tissues inserted therein either in the box in which the tissues are originally purchased or removed from their original container.

The top of the box is shown with an elongated slit l5. An individual tissue [6 is shown projecting through the slit l5, and a luminous plastics rim member I! outlines the elongated slit [5. As best shown in Figure 2, the rim I! has an inverted L-shape in cross section. The upright leg portion I8 fits down within the side walls of the slit l5, and the cross portion or lip I9 overlaps the top surface of the cover l2 preventing the rim from falling within the box l I.

The luminous rim I! is held in position by a cement or other adhesive as shown at 20 in Figure 2. The container-dispenser may be made of any suitable material such as wood or plastics or may be even cardboard.

Figure 3 shows another cleansing tissue container dispenser 21 having a cover 22 with hinges 23 joining the cover to the lower portion of the Y 3 container. A handle 24 is positioned in the front and center of the cover 22 and corresponds to the handle H! as shown in Figure l. The removal aperture 25 for the cleansing tissues is considerably larger and of different shape than the opening shown in the type of box in Figure 1. The tissues are stacked one on top of the other without any interfolding. Removal of one tissue does not, therefore, draw out the start of another tissue. In this large opening box, the hand is inserted through the opening and the tissues withdrawn as desired. Here again, however, a rim 26 of luminous plastics material is positioned around the periphery of the opening 25, thus illuminating the outline of the opening. Removal of tissues may then be accomplished in the dark in the same manner as the device shown in Figure 1.

The necessity for an illuminated opening for tissue dispensers is very important. oftentimes a person has a cold and it is necessary for him to use cleansing tissues throughout the night. The application of this invention to the home depicts only a minor part of the usefulness of this illuminated opening dispenser. In hospitals or sanitariums or the like,'the usefulness of the illuminated opening for tissue dispensers will be invaluable. Patients not familiar with the surroundings will be able to reach for tissues and find them without bothering busy nurses and without searching for an electric light switch. In many hospitals the patient is not permitted to turn on the light in a room for the reason that it will bother other patients in the room, and in such a situation the luminous rim for tissue dispensers will aid the patient in finding the tissues and eliminates groping'around in the dark.

As best shown in Figure l, a cardboard container-dispenser 2? as purchased has had a rim member 28 applied to the elongated slit 29 extending down the center of the top of the box. The application of a, rim to this elongated slit improves the dispenser in many ways. A first function of the rim 28 is to increase the strength of the cardboard dispenser which has been materially Weakened by the removal of a portion of the top to form the slit therein. The rim 23 is preferably of some material stronger than cardboard, although it should be understood that a heavy cardboard rim would be applicable in the same manner as any other material. The portions of the top of the cardboard box 2?, namely, 30 and 3!, which run alongside the elongated slit 29 become wavy after initial use and oftentimes tear or crack during continued use. The rim member 28 is similar in shape to the rim member ll as shown in Figure l of the drawings. However, in this instance it is not desirable to cement the rim to the box for the reason that it is desired to use the rim over and over again.

In order to effect locking of the rim 28 to the slit 29, the rim is buckled in the center as shown in Figure and locking lugs 32 at each end thereof are permitted to engage the under side of the top of the box 27. The particular shape of the locking lugs 32 is shown in detail in Figure I. When the locking lugs engage the under side of the top, an annular lip 33 comprising the top of the rim 28 engages the top of the box 21 along the portions 30 and 3!. A depending leg 3 extends downwardly from the lip portion 33 of the rim 28 within the slit 29. The rim is preferably made of a somewhat resilient plastics material, enabling it to be sprung as shown in Figure 5 for the attachment to the box and yet sunficiently strong to'resume its original flat shapeto maintain the cardboard edges of the slit 29 in a fiat position. The rim 28 protects the cardboard edges from becoming torn and forms an easy smooth opening through which a tissue 35 may be withdrawn without contact with the cardboard edges.

The original cardboard edges of the slit 29 are necessarily rough because they are formed by perforations being made in the top of the cardboard box. Withdrawing tissues past these rough edges causes the tissue to become torn or caught in the rough edges. Withdrawing succeeding tissues therefore only increases this hazard, and before beneath the top of the box 271.

the tissues in the box are entirely used up the top of the box is considerably mutilated.

As previously stated the rim 28 is preferably made of a plastics material. This material may be highly colored or ornamental, as desired, and it is a particular feature of this invention to have the rim of a luminous material which as shown in conjunction with Figures 1, 2, and 3 will outline the opening of a tissue container dispenser in a darkened room.

The rim may be withdrawn from the cardboard box after all the tissues have been dispensed just as easily as it is put on the box, merely by buckling the middle of the rim sufficiently to withdraw the locking lugs 32 from The material although designated as plastics may be equally suitable in metal. The rim as stated performs the function of maintaining the periphery of the paper dispensing slit rigid, provides a smooth opening through which the tissues may be withdrawn, and in addition provides an ornamental or colorful touch to the tissue box and if the luminous plastics material is employed permits the opening to be readily visible in the dark.

I am aware that details of construction may be varied without departing from the principles disclosed herein, and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A removable rim for rough openings of elongated shape in relatively flat cardboard objects comprising a fiat peripheral portion adapted to overlie the surface of the object adjacent the opening, a vertical portion depending from said flat peripheral portion, and means at the lower opposed ends of said vertical portion for engaging the under surface of the object adjacent the opening, said means including opposed lugs at the ends of said rim, said lugs being of less width than the opening, said rim being strong and somewhat resilient and having a smooth inner surface whereby the rim may be arched upon insertion into the opening and release of the arch permits the opposed lugs to spread outwardly beneath the underside of the surface adjacent the opening and paper articles may be withdrawn through the rimmed opening without tearing the paper article ordamaging the cardboard object.

2. A removable rim for rough openings of elongated shape in relatively flat cardboard objects comprising a flat peripheral portion adapted to overlie the surface of the object adjacent the opening, a vertical portion depending from said fiat peripheral portion, and means at the lower end of said vertical portion for engaging the under surfaceof the object adjacent the elongated opening, said means including opposed lugs of less width than the opening at the ends of said rim, said rim member being made of a somewhat resilient smooth luminous plastics :material whereby the rim is slightly buckled upon insertion into the opening and upon release of the buckling the rim resumes its normal fiat shape with the opposed lugs gripping the underside of the surface of the object adjacent the opening.

KENNETH T. SNOW.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Russell Oct. 25, 1910 Number Number Name Date 2,078,431 Weisswange Apr. 27, 1937 2,433,587 Wentworth Dec. 30, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 277,822 Great Britain Sept. 29, 1927 806,048 France Sept. 5, 1936 OTHER REFERENCES The ABC of Luminescence, copyright 1944 by Title New Jersey Zinc Company, 160 Front St., New York 7, N. Y. (25 pages). (Copy in Div. 54.) 

